The Summit Kingston was filled with elegance and heartfelt appreciation on Sunday, December 8, 2024, as Andrews Memorial Hospital (AMH) hosted its 80th Anniversary Corporate Excellence Awards Banquet under the theme Royal Moments. The event recognized the longstanding service and commitment of staff, retirees, and board members who have helped shape AMH’s legacy of holistic healthcare.
Mrs. Basilia Barnaby-Cuff served as the evening’s emcee. Guests included the AMH Board Chairman Pastor Everett Brown, members of the Board of Governors, President/CEO Mr. Donmayne Gyles, and their spouses; AMH leadership, and employees.
Delivering the keynote address, Pastor Roger Hernandez, Ministerial and Evangelism Director for the Southern Union Conference, of Seventh-day Adventists, United States of America, inspired attendees with his presentation Leadership for Leaders. He encouraged growth, resilience, and humility, quoting James Clear:
“All success is a delayed indicator of previous decisions… You don’t rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems.” He added, “No one should be more all-in about you than you. Do it now—even before you feel ready.”
A key highlight was the surprise presentation of the President’s Awards, which sparked enthusiastic applause as Mr. Gyles announced Miss Jacqueline Fyffe, Team Lead for Environmental Services Department and Miss Alanie Lewis, Director of Human Resources, as recipients.
“This is for your outstanding service and unwavering dedication—embodying the AMH values of compassion, diligence, and excellence,” said Mr. Gyles.
Miss Fyffe shared her appreciation:
“Being recognised for living out our core values—quality, integrity, compassion, commitment, collaboration, and accountability, means a great deal. It motivates me to continue making a difference for my team and AMH.”
Miss Lewis, lead organiser of the event, also expressed her gratitude: “I’m thankful to Mr. Gyles, the administration, and the board for this honour. I dedicate it to my HR team and the entire AMH family. Though challenges exist, we each have the opportunity to serve and make a difference.
In keeping with the theme of excellence, more than 200 staff members were recognised for exemplifying AMH’s Core Values: Quality, Integrity, Compassion, Collaboration, Commitment, and Accountability. Awards were also presented in four additional categories—Unsung Healthcare Hero, Above and Beyond, Excellence in Community Engagement and Volunteerism, and Customer Service Excellence—highlighting outstanding organisational contributions.
One hundred fifty-eight staff members were honoured for their dedicated service spanning five to 39 years. Among the longest-serving were Nurse Resna Budhoo-Noble and Marcia Bent-Wallace, each with an impressive 38.9 years of service. Other longtime staff included Marcia Love and Violet Gordon, both 35.6 years; Sylvia Livingstone and Paul Smith, 35.9 years; and Marcia Farquharson, who served for 38.3 years.
Pastor Everett Brown was recognised for 14 years of outstanding leadership as Chairman of the AMH Board. Also, Barbara Woolery was honoured for 18 years of service, while Mr. Dennis Brown and Dr. Guyann Channer were each recognised for a decade of dedicated service as board members.
Special acknowledgments were also given to Carol Morgan, former Vice President-Nursing Services/Chief Nursing Officer and Keith Shakespeare, former Vice President for Operations.
Other awardees included Patricia Lue-Chin and Dr. Trevor Tulloch, recognised for their consistent support for the hospital’s growth and development. Dr. Jerome Stern was also honoured in appreciation for his contribution to the growth and development of the Andrews Memorial Hospital.
Celebrating Retirees
The evening’s event paid tribute to retirees whose dedication has helped shape the institution. Honourees included Quida Anderson, Lucille Benbow, Sharon Bonner, Trevo Davis, Barbara Donaldson, Ronica Duffus, Ivy-Lee Hamilton-Grant, Trevor Johnson, Doreen Jones, Sheila Russell, Hyacinth Stephens, Eulalee Turner-White, and Lancelot Riley. Their years of service, hard work, and unwavering commitment were warmly celebrated.
In his remarks, Pastor Brown expressed heartfelt appreciation: “Celebrating those who’ve given so much brings me great joy. Our board members, workers, and retirees’ faith and commitment have made AMH a beacon of healing and hope.”
A Royal Evening of Celebration
The evening featured vibrant entertainment from the Natural Progressions Band, soulful vocal performances by Lisa Davis, and a moving saxophone solo by Suzanne Lawrence. Guests were treated to a gourmet dinner catered by Kel Kars Katering and an audiovisual tribute titled AMH Then and Now, produced by the CCMPR Department and Victoria Neil, with sound and visuals provided by Michael Spence. The elegant ambiance was curated by Cattleya Décor, while Emkay Sports and Trophies Limited crafted the commemorative awards.
The program concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks delivered by Mrs. Fredricka Coombs, Manager of the AMH Laboratory and one of the night’s awardees. Board Member Dr. Adlai Blythe closed the evening with a meaningful benediction.